Ava's POV

The meeting dragged on, and I kept my expression calm, every muscle taut beneath the surface. Rose shot me glances now and then, concern flickering in her eyes.

She knew better than anyone how deep my scars ran where Orion was concerned. But I didn’t need pity—I needed resolve.

I pushed through, outlining the next phases of our strategy, countering objections, shutting down doubts with sharp precision. No one would dare question my authority. Not today.

Underneath, though, my thoughts were a storm. Orion’s words played on repeat, his touch still hot on my skin. He’d always known exactly where to dig in, how to make me bleed....